As we wrap up the busy month of May, I’ve noticed a popular verse frequently appearing around this time of year. Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

This is one of those verses that a lot of us cling to. We recite it to each other and write it on post-it notes to put on our mirrors. Graduating seniors often choose it as their favorite verse…and for good reason! When you’re at the beginning of a new season, you want to know that God has good things planned for you. But this is also a verse that can be quoted to suit our own situation, possibly ignoring what we’re called to do here and also forgetting the context of what’s happening at this moment in history.

Here’s a little insight into what was going on when Jeremiah wrote this. The Book of Jeremiah was written to the people of Judah during the reign of their final five kings and on into the time after the fall of Judah when they were taken into captivity in Babylon.

So Jeremiah, the prophet, was given the job of warning the people of Judah that their bad decisions would ultimately bring them into ruin. But of course, they didn’t seem to listen. So when we get to chapter 29, it starts off by saying, “This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to…all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.” What God had promised would happen as a result of their idol-worshipping and general disobedience has happened. So the people must’ve been thinking: “Now what??”

We have the advantage of knowing how this story ends, but you can imagine that God’s people were wondering if they had finally done enough damage to their relationship with God that maybe He decided to give up on them and break His covenant with them. But that’s not what happened.

God’s faithfulness is beyond what we can even begin to comprehend! Through Jeremiah, God tells the people, “Go ahead and settle down in Babylon. Build houses, plant gardens, get married, have kids. But beware of false prophets who tell you what’s happening. Because here’s what’s actually going on: When 70 years are completed for your exile in Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.”

That’s when we come to verse 11: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God is encouraging them by saying, “Sure, 70 years is a long time. In fact, a lot of you won’t see the fulfillment of what comes next, but hang on. I’m working even if you can’t see me.” God is also saying “I know the plans I have for you…” The I is God. He’s the one who knows what’s coming, even though they have no clue!

But Jeremiah’s letter goes on to say: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity…I will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

There are some promises in Scripture that are specifically for the Israelites at that time, like I’m not necessarily expecting God to release me from captivity in 70 years. But this is a promise we read again and again in God’s Word: If we seek Him, we’ll find Him. Sometimes, maybe even most of the time, it’s in the seeking—not the finding—that we grow!

Like we read in Acts 17:27 – “God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.” He’s not hiding! He wants to be found! Ask God where you might be stuck in spiritual captivity. Then ask Him to free you from that place. He’s waiting for you!